UN launches initiative to improve environment in Cox’s Bazar

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DHAKA, Feb 16, 2020 (BSS) – Three United Nations (UN) agencies in association with the Bangladesh government have launched the ‘Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Plus Livelihoods (SAFE Plus) Project’ in Dhaka today aiming to mitigate deforestation and improve livelihood opportunities in Cox’s Bazar.

ERD Additional Secretary Sultana Afroz, IOM Mission Chief Giorgi Gigauri, FAO Representative Robert Simpson, and WFP Country Director Richard Ragan signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

SAFE Plus is a joint project between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the World Food Programme (WFP) to address environmental degradation through avenues like distribution of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and stoves, reforestation, and improved access to food production through livelihood programming, a joint press release said.

DFID, Global Affairs Canada, Norway, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), SIDA, PRM, Japan, Australia, ECHO and KOICA will provide grant support as collaborative agencies to implement the project a cost of about Tk 98.34 crore.

The LPG stove and gas distributions lessen the need for people to collect firewood, causing further damage to the environment. The reforestation activities rehabilitate unique forest reserves and protect natural resources. The livelihoods and self-reliance programming bolsters food production and business opportunities for the host community through which they can benefit economically.

The three-year project was designed in partnership with government agencies to increase collaboration among several sectors. Previously, these activities were being completed under a humanitarian programme, but this signing ceremony means SAFE Plus is now a development programme to improve livelihoods and lives in the most vulnerable region of Bangladesh.

At the agreement signing ceremony, the Additional Secretary Economic Relations Division and UN Wing Chief, Sultana Afroz thanked the UN agencies for coming forward to support the Rohingya as well as the host community.

“The generosity that the government and the people of Bangladesh has shown, despite our own development challenges, is exemplary,” she said.

“Now it is the international community’s responsibility to ensure that Bangladesh does not bear this burden alone and that there is a durable solution to this crisis in the form of repatriation to Myanmar,” she added.

“SAFEPlus capitalises on the technical capacities of the three UN agencies and government partners to meet the evolving needs of the people of Cox’s Bazar,” said Robert Simpson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh.

“IOM is delighted to announce SAFE Plus as a programme that addresses both the human and the environmental needs of the refugees and host community,” said Giorgi Gigauri, Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh.

Throughout this year, SAFE Plus will reach households in the host community with a livelihoods programme, technical support will be provided to farmers’ to increase the production of high-demand vegetables, and reforestation activities will continue.